WrestleMania Rumors: The Rock Could Return To WWE For Match With Brock Lesnar At 2016 PPV

The Rock has been a major part of WrestleMania for the last four years, competing in two matches with John Cena and kicking off last year’s pay-per-view with Stone Cold and Hulk Hogan. The wrestler turned movie star isn’t on the match card for WrestleMania 31, but there are rumors that he could face the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion next year at WrestleMania 32.

Brock Lesnar is set to defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 31 against Roman Reigns. The Rock made an appearance at the 2015 Royal Rumble when Reigns won a spot in the main event of WrestleMania 31. While he hasn’t been involved in the current feud between Reigns and Lesnar, Paul Heyman has made mention of The Rock in a few of his promos. The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reports that Heyman's comments could be used to help set up a possible match between The Rock and Lesnar in 2016.

"One match with Brock Lesnar was all The Rock could handle." -Paul Heyman #RAW

Even though he’s one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood, The Rock hasn’t ruled out returning to the squared circle. In a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, the eight-time WWE Champion showed some interest in fighting Lesnar at WrestleMania 32.

“In Dallas? Possibly. There's a lot of things that are up in the air. Lot of things are up in the air. We'll see. I would love that rematch, I would love ... whatever it is, you want to create something that's going to be special, memorable, especially in Dallas at that stadium you have a shot at breaking the attendance record. It's got to be special.”

Lesnar and The Rock have a history that dates back nearly 13 years. In 2002, Lesnar beat The Rock for the title at SummerSlam, making him the youngest WWE Champion in the company’s history at just 25 years, one month and 13 days old.

During The Rock’s last run as a wrestler, he feuded with another “Paul Heyman Guy.” The Rock beat CM Punk for the WWE title at the 2013 Royal Rumble, also winning their rematch at Elimination Chamber.

It’s no secret that Vince McMahon and WWE have planned for The Rock and Brock Lesnar to have a match at WrestleMania. The Rock has admitted as much, claiming the two were supposed to begin a feud on the “Monday Night Raw,” following WrestleMania 29. But an injury that The Rock sustained during his title match with Cena forced him to miss the show.

The angle was expected to lead to a match between The Rock and Lesnar at WrestleMania 30. Instead, The Rock wasn’t on the card, and Lesnar went on to end The Undertaker’s streak.

Considering WrestleMania 32 will be held at AT&T Stadium in Dallas with WWE looking to sell over 100,000 tickets, the company will likely look to make the match card as star-studded as possible. In addition to The Rock vs. Lesnar, it’s also been speculated that The Undertaker could face Sting.

But there’s a chance that Lesnar won’t be with the company for much longer. His contract with WWE is set to end after WrestleMania 31, and he could look to make a return to mixed martial arts and sign with UFC. WWE reportedly wants Lesnar to remain with the company, and he could retain the title at WrestleMania 31.